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Accessing a Citrix NetScaler

Jun 24, 2013

A NetScaler appliance has both a command line interface (CLI) and a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a configuration utility for configuring the appliance and a statistical utility, called Dashboard. For initial access, all appliances ship with the default NetScaler IP address (NSIP) of 192.168.100.1 and default subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. You can assign a new NSIP and an associated subnet mask during initial configuration.

If you encounter an IP address conflict when deploying multiple NetScaler units, check for the following possible causes:

  • Did you select an NSIP that is an IP address already assigned to another device on your network?
  • Did you assign the same NSIP to multiple NetScaler appliances?
  • The NSIP is reachable on all physical ports. The ports on a NetScaler are host ports, not switch ports.

The following table summarizes the available access methods.

Table 1. Methods for Accessing a NetScaler appliance
Access Method Port Default IP Address Required? (Y/N)
CLI Console N
CLI and GUI Ethernet Y

Using the Command Line Interface

Updated: 2013-09-04

You can access the CLI either locally, by connecting a workstation to the console port, or remotely, by connecting through secure shell (SSH) from any workstation on the same network.

Logging on to the Command Line Interface through the Console Port

The appliance has a console port for connecting to a computer workstation. To log on to the appliance, you need a serial crossover cable and a workstation with a terminal emulation program.

To log on to the CLI through the console port

  1. Connect the console port to a serial port on the workstation, as described in .
  2. On the workstation, start HyperTerminal or any other terminal emulation program. If the logon prompt does not appear, you may need to press ENTER one or more times to display it.
  3. Log on by using the administrator credentials. The command prompt (>) appears on the workstation monitor.

Logging on to the Command Line Interface by using SSH

The SSH protocol is the preferred remote access method for accessing an appliance remotely from any workstation on the same network. You can use either SSH version 1 (SSH1) or SSH version 2 (SSH2.)

If you do not have a working SSH client, you can download and install any of the following SSH client programs:

These programs have been tested by the Citrix NetScaler team, which has verified that they work correctly with a NetScaler appliance. Other programs may also work correctly, but have not been tested.

To verify that the SSH client is installed properly, use it to connect to any device on your network that accepts SSH connections.

To log on to a NetScaler by using an SSH client

  1. On your workstation, start the SSH client.
  2. For initial configuration, use the default NetScaler IP address (NSIP), which is 192.168.100.1. For subsequent access, use the NSIP that was assigned during initial configuration. Select either SSH1 or SSH2 as the protocol.
  3. Log on by using the administrator credentials. For example: 
     
login as: nsroot 
Using keyboard-interactive authentication. 
Password: 
Last login: Tue Jun 16 10:37:28 2009 from 10.102.29.9 
 
 Done 
>

Using the Graphical User Interface

Updated: 2014-06-30

Important: A certificate-key pair is required for HTTPS access to the NetScaler configuration utility. On a NetScaler ADC, a certificate-key pair is automatically bound to the internal services. On an MPX or SDX appliance, the default key size is 1024 bytes, and on a VPX instance, the default key size is 512 bytes. However, most browsers today do not accept a key that is less than 1024 bytes. As a result, HTTPS access to the VPX configuration utility is blocked.

Additionally, if a license is not present on an MPX appliance when it starts, and you add a license later and restart the appliance, you might lose the certificate binding.

Citrix recommends that you install a certificate-key pair of at least 1024 bytes on a NetScaler ADC for HTTPS access to the configuration utility, and that you install an appropriate license before starting the ADC.

The graphical user interface includes a configuration utility and a statistical utility, called Dashboard, either of which you access through a workstation connected to an Ethernet port on the appliance. If your computer does not have a supported Java plug-in installed, the utility prompts you to download and install the plug-in the first time you log on. If automatic installation fails, you can install the plug-in separately before you attempt to log on to the configuration utility or Dashboard.

The system requirements for the workstation running the GUI are as follows:

  • For Windows-based workstations, a Pentium 166 MHz or faster processor with at least 48 MB of RAM is recommended for applets running in a browser using a Java plug-in product. You should have 40 MB free disk space before installing the plug-in.
  • For Linux-based workstations, a Pentium platform running Linux kernel v2.2.12 or above, and glibc version 2.12-11 or later. A minimum of 32 MB RAM is required, and 48 MB RAM is recommended. The workstation should support 16-bit color mode, KDE and KWM window managers used in conjunction, with displays set to local hosts.
  • For Solaris-based workstations, a Sun running either Solaris 2.6, Solaris 7, or Solaris 8, and the Java 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition, version 1.6 or later.

Your workstation must have a supported web browser and version 1.6 or above of the Java applet plug-in installed to access the configuration utility and Dashboard.

The following browsers are supported.

Operating System Browser Versions
Windows 7 Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10
Mozilla Firefox 3.6.25 and above
Google Chrome Latest
Windows 64 bit Internet Explorer 8 and 9
Google Chrome Latest
MAC Mozilla Firefox 12 and above
Safari 5.1.3
Google Chrome Latest

Using the Configuration Utility

Once you log on to the configuration utility, you can configure the appliance through a graphical interface that includes context-sensitive help.

If your computer does not have a supported Java plug-in installed, the first time you log on to the appliance, the configuration utility will prompt you to download and install the plug-in.

Note: Prior to installing the Java 2 Runtime Environment, ensure that you have installed the full set of required operating system patches needed for the current Java release.

To log on to the configuration utility

  1. Open your web browser and enter the NetScaler IP (NSIP) as an HTTP address. If you have not yet set up the initial configuration, enter the default NSIP (http://192.168.100.1). The Citrix Logon page appears.
    Note: If you have two NetScaler appliances in a high availability setup, make sure that you do not access the GUI by entering the IP address of the secondary NetScaler. If you do so and use the GUI to configure the secondary NetScaler, your configuration changes will not be applied to the primary NetScaler.
  2. In the User Name text box, type nsroot.
  3. In the Password text box, type the administrative password you assigned to the nsroot account during initial configuration and click Login. The Configuration Utility page appears.
    Note: If your workstation does not already have a supported version of the Java runtime plug-in installed, the NetScaler prompts you to download the Java Plug-in. After the download is complete, the configuration utility page appears.

    If you need to access the online help, select Help from the Help menu at the top right corner.

Using the Statistical Utility

Dashboard, the statistical utility, is a browser-based application that displays charts and tables on which you can monitor the performance of a NetScaler.

To log on to Dashboard

  1. Open your web browser and enter the NSIP as an HTTP address (http://<NSIP>). The Citrix Logon page appears.
  2. In the User Name text box, type nsroot.
  3. In the Password text box, type the administrative password you assigned to the nsroot account during initial configuration.

Installing the Java Runtime Plug-in

If automatic installation of the Java plug-in fails, you can install the plug-in separately before you attempt to log on to the configuration utility.

Note: Before installing the Java 2 Runtime Environment, make sure that you have installed the full set of required operating system patches needed for the current Java release.

To install the Java runtime plug-in on your workstation

  1. In your web browser, enter the NSIP and port number of your appliance: http://<NSIP>:80 The Java plug-in icon appears.
  2. Click the Java plug-in icon and follow the screen prompts to copy the plug-in installer to your workstation hard disk. The Java plug-in setup icon (for example, j2re-1.6.0) appears on your computer at the location you specified.
  3. Double-click the plug-in setup icon, and follow the screen prompts to install the plug-in.
  4. Return to your web browser and click the Java plug-in icon a second time to display the GUI logon screen.